Author Archives: Marie Dinsmore

New Home Trends for 2015

Thursday, 18 December 2014 22:20
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bigclosetWhile not everyone believes in establishing a New Year’s resolution each January, there’s truth to the idea that most of us still crave some sort of change or new beginning towards the end of December.  Sure, there are a lot of internal things that many of us hope to work on; however, a sizeable portion of our longed-for transformations involve physical things either in our appearance or in our surroundings.

Therefore, if you’re planning on selling your home or you simply want to give your space a fresh new look, it’s important to stay on top of the latest popular home trends.

According to several leading experts, the following is a list of some of the top home remodeling trends in 2015:

1.) OUT WITH THE CERAMIC FLOORING, IN WITH THE LUXURY VINYL TILE – If you’re going for a high-end look at a more affordable price, homeowners in 2015 will be opting for luxury vinyl instead of ceramic.

2.) MORE PAINTED KITCHEN CABINETS, LESS STAINLESS STEEL –  Instead of standard wood staining, you can expect to see more painted cabinets with white trim; however, many people are beginning to move away from stainless steel appliances because they show fingerprints very easily.

3.) MAINTENANCE-FREE COUNTERTOPS – Sure, granite countertops have been the Mecca of kitchen upgrades for a long time, but it’s possible that they may have already seen their day.  Starting in 2015, we’ll start seeing a greater demand for high-end countertops that require much less maintenance, such as soapstone, engineered stone, or zinc.

4.) COOLER BATHROOM COLORS – If you like cool grays, greens, blues, and white, you’ll be thrilled to learn that in the bathrooms of the latest trending homes, buyers are leaning towards cooler colors for both their walls and décor.

5.) ADDING “KEEPING ROOMS” – It’s okay if you’ve never heard of a “keeping room,” as long as you know that they’re rapidly becoming a staple in many new homes.  As a somewhat small room located off the kitchen, it’s a great place for the kids to play with all of their toys or someplace you can use as a study or media room.

6.) LARGER CLOSETS AND BATHROOMS – Surprisingly (or maybe not), less emphasis is being placed upon bedroom space and more is being placed on larger closets and bathrooms.  While large bedrooms seem nice in theory, they tend to be a waste of space since many of us fail to spend much time in them.  To the contrary, closet space tends to be a coveted luxury, as does having enough room to get read in the bathroom each morning.

CONCLUSION

If you’re thinking about placing your home on the market in the spring, now is the perfect time to think about redecorating your home in the hopes of attracting interested buyers.  If you’d like some advice about local trends or want to settle upon the best course of action for your home, please call me.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.dinsmoreteam.com | 770-712-7789

Featured Neighborhood: Avalon in Alpharetta

Thursday, 11 December 2014 21:47
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0114AvalonEatStreet If you’re looking to live the high life without dealing with Atlanta’s gridlocked roads and expensive parking, then Avalon—Alpharetta’s newest mixed-use development—is sure to catch your eye.  Located on 86 acres of land at the intersection of GA 400 and Old Milton Parkway, this $600 million development is more than just the 101 single-family courtyard homes—it includes over 100 exclusive shops and restaurants.

A community designed around the old world charm of walkable cities, residents will be treated to a neighborhood filled with opportunities for alfresco dining, luxury shopping, and nightly entertainment, while also enjoying the privacy of personal courtyards and homes equipped with designer finishes.

3624385788Ranging in price from $600,000 to $2 million, these exquisite Monte Hewett homes come filled with an assortment of upscale touches, such as professional series appliances, open floor plans, oversized master’s suites, and stunning views.  Many of the homes come standard with three-car garages, while others boast custom libraries with grand 14-foot ceilings and multiple fireplaces.

RETAIL

Threads, Anthropologie, Arhaus, Athleta, Banana Republic, BCBG Max Azria, Boston Proper, C Wonder, Calypso, Columbia, Crate & Barrel, Dental Town, Destination Maternity, Dry Bar, Everything But Water, Exhale, Fab’rik, Fly Wheel, Francesca’s, Free People, Fuzzywigs Candy Factory, Gap, Gymboree, J. Crew, J. Jill, J. McLaughlin, Janie and Jack, Kendra Scott, Kinnucan’s Specialty Outfitter, L’Occitane, LensCrafters, Lou & Grey, Marmi Mitchell, Gold + Bob Williams, Note Worthy Paper, Orvis, Paper Source, PNC, Pooch ‘N’ Paws, Pottery Barn Kids, Regal Cinemas, Road Runner Sports, Sage, Soft Surroundings, Sunglass Hut, The Cosmetic Market, Tommy Bahama, Tumi, Van Michael Salon, Velina, Vineyard Vines, West Elm.

54296d710c9a2FOOD/DINING Whole Foods, Antico, Bantam + Biddy, Bantu, Bocado Burger, Caffe Gio, Cru, Goldberg’s Fine Goods, Kona Grill, Marlow’s Tavern, Oak Steakhouse, Pinkberry, Ted’s Montana Grill, The El Felix

SCHOOLS

Elementary – Manning Oaks

Middle – Hopewell

High – Alpharetta

If you have any questions or you would like the assistance of an experienced Realtor, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.dinsmoreteam.com | 770-712-7789

Featured Neighborhood: Manor North by Edwards Andrews Homes

Friday, 21 November 2014 23:52
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COMMUNITYIS10a1yprx6vmr

From the low 500’s, this luxurious gated community boasts a country club lifestyle, complete with a recently renovated community clubhouse, pool, and tennis complex; however, as part of The Manor Golf and Country Club, all residents will also gain access to the Tom Watson-designed championship golf course, both indoor and outdoor pools, and the state-of-the-art exercise and tennis facility.

LOCATION

Located on the beautiful sprawling acres just off Hopewell road in Alpharetta, Manor North is conveniently near an array of top dining and shopping establishments, including The Collection at Forsyth and Avalon, as well as Northpointe Mall.  In addition, a whole host of outdoor recreational activities can be found nearby, to include Lake Lanier, the Big Creek Greenway, Fowler Park, and the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Center. For those residents seeking an easy commute into Atlanta, GA 400 is minutes away, along with GA 20 and several Marta stations.

SCHOOLS

For families with children, Manor North is within the Cherokee County school district—which is one of the best districts in the state—and is near Free Home Elementary, Creekland Middle School, and Creek View High School.  Nearby private schools include King’s Ridge Christian School, Alpharetta International Academy, Chandler Academy, and St. Francis School.

manor_north_community_cardINTERIOR DESIGN FEATURES

Each home is artfully designed around an open floor plan with an abundance of natural light, and comes standard with granite countertops in all baths as well as the kitchen.  10-foot ceilings round out each main level, along with hardwood flooring, a grand entryway, and a 42-inch direct vent gas fireplace.  Stainless steel appliances can be found in each kitchen, along with tile backsplashes, crown molding, stained solid maple wood cabinets, and recessed lighting.

The owner’s suite includes spacious walk-in closets, as well as vaulted ceilings, double vanities, and an elegant garden tub, while the private guest suite keeps your visitors feeling welcomed and comfortable.

EXTERIOR DESIGN FEATURES

Each home features a traditional and craftsmen style design using brick, natural stone, and siding variations, along with standing seam metal porch roofs and professional landscaping packages.  A three-car garage comes standard on each property and a gorgeously constructed deck with stairs is included on the rear of each house.

Kingswood-roswell-georgia-rutledge-covered-patio-fireplaceCONTACT

To learn more about the community, please feel free to visit their website at http://www.eahomes.com/communities/manor-north/ or contact their sales center at 678-738-7611.

If you would like the assistance of an experienced agent or to schedule a viewing, please feel free to contact me.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.dinsmoreteam.com | 770-712-7789

Six Pricing Mistakes Sellers Should Avoid

Friday, 14 November 2014 18:18
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house-for-sale1When attempting to sell your home, the goal is to garner as much money for your investment as possible; however, the catch-22 is that one of the key factors to actually encouraging interest on your property is to offer a fair price.  Therefore, if you are serious about finding the right buyer, establishing a solid pricing strategy is an absolute must.

With this in mind, it’s important to start by being aware of the six common pricing mistakes that all sellers should attempt to avoid.

1.) OVERPRICING FROM THE START: Sure, you obviously love your home and feel that it’s the best property on the block; however, while it may seem natural to start with a listing price that is relative to the value you see, making the mistake of overpricing your home at the outset could deter potential buyers—especially if recent sales and other neighborhood factors fail to justify your starting point.  In addition, since multiple price reductions tend to keep properties on the market for longer periods of time, you may be setting yourself up for avoidable frustration.

2.) LEAVING OUT POTENTIAL BUYERS IN ONLINE SEARCHES: When perusing through online listings, the first parameter that most buyers use to narrow their options is price.  For example, if a buyer’s target price range is $250,000 to $300,000, your home will never get seen if it’s listed at $305,000.  While that last $5000 may be important to you, it’s probably wise to settle upon $300,000 so changes are better that you’ll capture buyers in the ranges above and below your price.

Ultimately, what you decide upon is up to you and your agent, but if you’re already teetering on your price anyway, having a bit of flexibility might be worth considering.

3.) NOT TAKING RECENTLY SOLD PROPERTIES INTO ACCOUNT: While it may seem logical to base your starting price off of what other homes are listed for in your area, it’s important to understand that in order to generate buyer interest, you should consider final sale prices instead.  Having a solid understanding of the recent sales in your neighborhood will not only help you to see the bigger picture, but bring you some peace of mind as well.

4.) GETTING TOO CREATIVE WITH YOUR ASKING PRICE: When shopping retail, there’s a reason prices tend to include round, easy numbers—i.e. $15.99, $220.00, $6.50—instead of complex combinations like $15.26 or $219.82.  In order to generate interest, you’ll want to make things easy for potential buyers by selecting a price that’s memorable and inviting.  Listing your home for $512,477 instead of $512,000 may not only give potential buyers pause, but divert unnecessary attention from your property to you, the seller.

5.) NOT BEING OPEN TO NEGOTIATION: Plain and simple, negotiation is a two-way street, which means finding a bit of common ground is important.  The quickest way to kill a sale is to refuse to budge in regards to your asking price or the other conditions involved in the final agreement.  Instead of digging your heels in from the very beginning, ask yourself whether you’d rather wait a long time to get your full asking price, or whether you’d like to close as soon as possible.  By thinking in those terms, you’re more likely to see the benefit in making a few concessions.

6.) IGNORING YOUR AGENT’S INSIGHTS: The first step in selling your home for an acceptable price is to not only select an experienced agent, but to listen to their advice.  Helping you sell your home is about more than simply placing it online or putting signs in the yard—it’s about looking at your individual situation from all angles, to include your home’s features, the local market, recent sales, and more.  Therefore, if you want to make an informed decision, make a point to listen to the information being provided.

If you would like to know more or if you want to begin the selling process, please feel free to contact me.  I’d love to hear from you.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.dinsmoreteam.com | 770-712-7789

 

Prevent & Thaw Frozen Pipes This Winter

Thursday, 06 November 2014 19:32
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frozen-pipes-620x400Generally speaking, the winters here in Georgia remain somewhat mild in relation to other areas within the U.S.; however—as evidenced by the icy weather last January—even in the South, deep freezes do happen.

Sadly, not all houses are built the same, particularly those situated in warmer climates.  Here in Georgia, since freezing temperatures tend to be the exception rather than the rule, most homes are built with water pipes which are located in unprotected, uninsulated parts of the structure; however, aside from general construction differences, variation can even be found within the homeowners themselves, since people generally accustomed to warmer weather tend to be less aware of freezing problems.

Therefore, since frozen pipes can often be an extremely messy and expensive problem, it’s important to understand why it happens and how to make sure it doesn’t happen in your home.

WHY DO PIPES FREEZE?

For anyone who has ever put a can of soda in the freezer to watch what the expanding, frozen liquid does to the actual can, it’s helpful to think of the pipes in your home the same way.  Water expands as it freezes, which puts extreme pressure on whatever medium is holding it in—to include both metal and plastic piping.

Thus, the pipes that pose the greatest risk for homeowners are, as previously mentioned, ones that are exposed to severe cold without protection—i.e. outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines, and unheated interior lines in areas such as basements, crawl spaces, attics, and garages, as well as pipes that run along exterior walls with little or no insulation.

HOW TO PREVENT FROZEN PIPES IN ADVANCE

Before the really cold weather sets in, consider following these recommendations:

1. Drain all water from swimming pool and water sprinkler lines following the manufacturer’s directions.  Also, avoid the use of antifreeze in these lines unless directed by a professional, since antifreeze is not only environmentally harmful, but particularly dangerous to humans, pets, wildlife, and landscaping.

2. Remove and drain all hoses that are used outside, and close the inside valves supplying your outdoor house bibs.  Open the outside house bib so the water can drain and allow it to remain open so any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing it to break.

3. Take note of other sections in your home where water pipes may be located in unheated areas.  Whether the piping is for hot or cold water, insulate them for protection.

4. Consider using specific products for pipe insulation such as pipe sleeves or heat tape.  If you’re not looking to spend a lot of money, even newspaper wrappings can provide some degree of protection in exposed areas.

STEPS TO TAKE DURING COLD WEATHER

1. If your water supply lines are in the garage, keep the garage door closed to protect your pipes from the elements.

2. When the temperatures take a drastic dip (particularly 20° F or lower), let the faucet drip with cold water.  Running water, even if it’s only a trickle, can help stop the pipes from freezing.

3. If you plan on traveling or being away from your home for an extended period of time, make a point to leave the heat on (set to no lower than 55° F).

TO THAW ALREADY FROZEN PIPES

If you attempt to turn on the faucet and only a trickle comes out—or nothing at all—it’s safe to say that the pipe is probably frozen.  To remedy the situation, consider the following:

1. Keep the faucet open as you begin treating the pipe.  Once things begin to thaw, continued running water will help the ice melt faster.

2. Apply heat directly to the pipe through the use of an electronic heating pad, hair dryer, or portable space heater.  Towels soaked in hot water can also be used to wrap around the pipes; however, avoid using any methods that involve an open flame.

3. Check all additional water sources in the home to see if there are other frozen pipes.  If there appears to be a frozen area that you either cannot access or cannot thaw, call a licensed plumber for assistance.

PROTECTION FOR THE FUTURE

Sure, deep freezes are rare here in Georgia, but that doesn’t mean they don’t occur.  Plain and simple, it only takes one really cold day for a burst pipe to create a horribly expensive mess, so it’s wise to consider not only adding insulation to attics, basements, and crawl spaces, but to maintain higher temperatures in these areas.  Furthermore, if you’re planning a remodel, speak with the contractor about the possibility of relocating certain exposed pipes.

Protecting your home is important, especially if you’re attempting to sell it and it’s sitting vacant.  Don’t let that possible sale turn into a nightmare of water damage and foundation work.

If you have any questions or would like the referral of an experienced, reputable plumber, please feel free to contact me.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.dinsmoreteam.com | 770-712-7789